Fahnenjunker (short Fhj or FJ, English: officer cadet; lit.

In earlier German armed forces it was also the collective name for many officer aspirant ranks.

It was established by the Presidential order of the Federal president on rank insignia and uniforms of soldiers.

The sequence of ranks (top-down approach) in that particular group is as follows: Unteroffizier ohne Portepee An officer candidate's career is indicated by the enlisted rank with a thin silver cord on the shoulder strap in the army and the air force, and with the golden nautical star on the shoulder strap and sleeve in the Deutsche Marine.

The rank insignia of Fahnenjunker consists of shoulder straps, bordered by a golden braid that is open to the sleeve seam.